Richard Allen Hamilton

A Life of Intellect, Adventure, and Active Service

The Early Journey: Richard Allen Hamilton was born in Denver, Colorado, beginning a life that would span across the country and touch countless lives. He graduated from high school in Kansas City, Kansas, before stepping into a series of rugged and diverse adventures—from logging outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to spending formative time in Santa Barbara, California, and attending university.

It was in Kansas City that he met the love of his life, Helga. With his keen intellect and sharp wit, he convinced her to return to the States and elope with him in the majestic mountains of Estes Park, Colorado. They began their married life in Grand Lake, Colorado, where Richard worked as a chef, before his engineering mind landed him a career with Boeing. This job took the young couple to New Orleans until 1968, when a career transfer—and a random, fateful finger placed on a map—led them to Issaquah, Washington, where they settled to raise their family. Over the years, their journey took them through Bellevue, Mukilteo, Gig Harbor, Midway, and Heber, before they finally purchased their last home together in Payson, Utah.

A Master of Creation and Curiosity: Richard was a man possessed by a rare, insatiable love for knowledge and learning. In his youth, he poured his energy into chess, debate, forensics, and engineering clubs, alongside observing his grandfather’s work at a veterinary clinic. He was a self-described "people watcher" who constantly looked for architectural patterns in human behavior.

He was a creator by nature. He loved woodworking, tiling, fixing up houses, and custom-making toys of a bygone era for his grandchildren. His garages were legendary—meticulously organized with pegboards and filled with vast files of fascinating articles he gathered to share. He loved a fast drive in his Audi, a highly competitive game of ping-pong or pool, a brilliant joke, and being out on the open water in their boat, Misty II. Together, he and Helga knew how to create a beautiful home environment—crafting a legendary, welcoming "vibe," especially when celebrating Christmas. He was a deeply thoughtful gift-giver and a master of the backyard barbecue.

An Entrepreneurial Spirit: Richard’s professional life was a testament to his bold, entrepreneurial drive. After his time with Boeing, he brought his talents to Nalley’s and the New England Fish Company before bravely launching his own independent enterprises. He became a publisher—producing The Newsmill, The Seagull, The Jefferson Bible, and The Second Peter Principle, and informational books designed to explain the work of fellow entrepreneurs. His innovative mind led him to develop alternative fleet fuels at Methane Technologies and fashion specialized CO2 chambers for health and wellness. In his final working years, he found a unique calling "chasing fires," stepping into the aftermath of disasters to help families navigate their insurance and rebuild their lives.

Answering the Call to Help: Wherever Richard saw a human need, he threw himself into the gap. He served bravely as a volunteer firefighter in both Issaquah and Mukilteo, once breaking his ribs on the back of a speeding fire truck rushing toward a home in flames. He served his community as a guardian ad litem protecting vulnerable children, worked closely within local drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, and helped pioneer church programs for recovery.

Alongside Helga, he continually enlisted the family to pull travelers out of life's ditches—sponsoring a Cambodian refugee family, taking in a foster brother, and opening his doors to children from broken families, the blind, and those hard on their luck. His deep capacity to sit down and speak directly with people in recovery stemmed from his genuine curiosity about their souls. He also found profound peace and joy during the years he spent serving quietly in the Seattle Temple’s baptistry and at the veil.

A Legacy of Deep Love: Richard was a complex, intense man who set exceptionally high standards. Because he wanted desperately to challenge people to wake up, look closely, and see the beauty of the world, his approach could sometimes stretch patience, bring sharp words, or create distances. Yet, his devotion ran incredibly deep. In his final years alone, he asked after every single member of the family regularly, showing himself to be so very interested in the wide variety of talents and paths his children and grandchildren pursued. He loved life fiercely, and he loved his family equally strongly—even when he didn’t quite know how to express it, that care ran deep. We love you, Dad - till we meet again, Auf Wieder Bye-Bye!

Richard is survived by three children and spouses: Heidi and Chris Burnard, Heike and Rodney Smith, and Hans and Katherine Hamilton; thirteen grandchildren: Ryan, Brandon, Stephanie, Katrina, Lara, Jessica, Joshua, Hannah, Caleb, Caitlyn, Nathan, Reed, and Spencer; eight great grandchildren: Cassidy, William, Benjamin, Frederick, Jacob, Oliver, Scottie and Skylar; with one more expected by year's end. Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Helga and their former son-in-law, Derek Nelson.